System and method for visual editing

ABSTRACT

A system and method for visual editing of an input signal, including an editing device comprising a device screen, a media module, a user input module, and an output module. The media module receives an input signal which includes at least one visual component. The device screen comprises a source screen and a delay screen, wherein the input signal is displayed on the source screen in real time, and the input signal is displayed on the delay screen in delay time, with the delay time being adjustable. The user input module allows the user to create at least one clip comprising a portion of the input signal as it is displayed on the delay screen. The output module is structured to output the clip.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/932,327 filed Jul. 1, 2013, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VISUALEDITING,” which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/690,762 entitled “Real Time Editing Using DelayScreen Recorder,” filed Jul. 3, 2012, the disclosures of which are eachincorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a system and method for visual editingof an input signal using a source screen displaying the input signal inreal time and a delay screen displaying the input signal in delay time.

Description of the Related Art

Video editing is the process of editing segments of video footage,special effects, and sound recordings. Video editing typically occurs ina post production process, after the filming is complete. In thisprocess, relevant clips of the raw footage or data are cut and thenpieced together in a viewable and coherent format, and may furtherinclude other signal processing and other enhancements.

As such, traditional video editing requires the user to first capturethe raw video footage and/or sound recordings. The user must thentransport or transmit the raw data from the capture or source device toa video editor or program for post production. Further, in order todetermine which segments of the raw data to use in a resulting clip, theuser is required to watch, rewind, or fast forward to track the startingpoints and end points of each portion to be extracted.

As such, there is a need for an improved system and method which enablesa user to selectively create clips from a raw data source, whileovercoming disadvantages and problems of the type set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system and method for visualediting of an input signal, wherein the input signal may comprise avideo signal and/or a visual representation of a non-video signal, suchas, by way of example only, a visual representation of an audio signal,an EKG, a speed profile, a direction profile, a temperature profile,etc., such as lends itself to a visual representation in real time thatmay be displayed on a device screen. Specifically, in at least oneembodiment, the present invention enables visual editing of a signalthrough use of a source screen that visually displays the input signalin real time, and a delay screen that visually displays the input signalin delay time. This allows a user to selectively extract or editportions of an input signal while watching the input signal as displayedon the delay screen, in order to create a clip from the input signal.

As such, at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises anediting device including a media module, a device screen, a user inputmodule, and an output module.

The media module is structured to receive an input signal from a signalsource, and in one embodiment, the signal source may comprise a videocamera, a digital video camera, a computer, a server, a mobileelectronic device, a camera, an electrocardiograph device, anotherediting device, or another device capable of transmitting an inputsignal to the media module.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the device screen comprisesa source screen and a delay screen. The source screen is structured todisplay the input signal in real time. The delay screen is structured todisplay the input signal in delay time. The source screen and delayscreen may be displayed on the device screen in differentconfigurations, in at least one embodiment.

The user input module, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, is structured to allow a user to select an input signal fordisplay on both a source screen and a corresponding delay screen. Theuser input module may also allow the user to change the configurationsof the source screen and the delay screen as displayed on the devicescreen. The user input module, in at least one embodiment, furtherallows the user to initiate recording of a clip of the input signal asdisplayed on the delay screen, as well as to pause or terminaterecording of the clip. The user may also set or adjust the delay time ofthe delay screen through the user input module, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention. For instance, if the user missesthe portion that he or she wishes to record, the user may increase thedelay interval so that the portion is displayed again in the delayscreen.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, theoutput module is structured to transmit a clip to an output device, andin one further embodiment, the output device comprises an internalmemory of the editing device itself. In at least one embodiment, theclip comprises a digital media file, and may be transmitted as a streamor feed to one or more output devices, which may comprise an externaldevice or an internal memory of the editing device itself.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become clearer when the drawings as well as the detaileddescription are taken into consideration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one illustrative embodimentof a system for visual editing of an input signal.

FIG. 2 is a plain view of one illustrative embodiment of a userinterface of an editing device in accordance with the present inventionhaving a device screen comprising a source screen and a delay screendisposed in a side by side configuration.

FIG. 3A is a plain view of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2 havinga device screen comprising a source screen only configuration.

FIG. 3B is a plain view of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2 havinga device screen comprising a delay screen only configuration.

FIG. 3C is a plain view of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2 havinga device screen comprising a source screen in a picture-in-pictureconfiguration.

FIG. 3D is a plain view of the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 2 havinga device screen comprising a delay screen in a picture-in-pictureconfiguration.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one other illustrative embodiment of an editingdevice in accordance with the present invention having a device screendisplaying a visual representation of an audio signal on a source screenand a delay screen.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of one illustrative embodiment of asystem in accordance with the present invention comprising a singlesignal source linked to a plurality of editing devices.

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of one other illustrative of asystem in accordance with the present invention comprising a pluralityof signal sources linked to a single editing device.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of one illustrative embodimentof a method for visual editing of an input signal in accordance with thepresent invention.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As stated above, the present invention is directed to a system forvisual editing of an input signal, generally as shown as 200 throughoutthe figures, as well as a method for visual editing of an input signal,generally shown as 300 throughout the figures.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of a system200 for visual editing of an input signal 150 in accordance with thepresent invention. The system 200 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a signalsource 110 structured at least in part to transmit an input signal 150to an editing device 10, wherein the input signal 150 comprises at leastone visual component, and in at least one embodiment, the input signal150 comprises a video signal and/or a visual representation of an audiosignal. The editing device 10 is structured at least in part to displayand at least temporarily store an input signal 150 transmitted thereto.As such, in at least one embodiment, the editing device 10 includes aprocessor 101 and/or a memory 102. In one further embodiment, an editingdevice 10 comprises a device screen 100 disposed in a communicativerelationship with a media module 103, a user input module 104, and/or anoutput module 105. The processor 101 and memory 102 are structured toallow the modules 103, 104, and/or 105 to operatively communicate withone another, as well as with the device screen 100. The output module105, in at least one embodiment, is structured at least in part to atleast temporarily store a clip 160 comprising one or more portions of aninput signal 150.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the present invention, theediting device 10 comprises, but is in no manner limited to, a videocamera, a digital video camera, a computer, a cell phone, a smart phone,a tablet, or another mobile electronic device capable of displaying aninput signal 150. In one further embodiment, the editing device 10comprises a wearable device, such as, once again by way of example only,glasses or visors, watches, or other electronic accessories capable ofdisplaying an input signal 150.

A signal source 110 in accordance with the present invention comprises adevice capable of transmitting an input signal 150 having at least onevisual component. For instance, in one embodiment, the signal source 110comprises a computer, a server, or a mobile electronic device whichtransmits an input signal 150 to an editing device 10, and more inparticular, to a media module 103 of the editing device 10. In anotherembodiment, the signal source 110 comprises a video camera or a webcamera which transmits an input signal 150 comprising live video to theediting device 10, and in one further embodiment, the signal source 110comprises a video camera built into the editing device 10 itself. Inanother embodiment, the signal source 110 is a memory module, storagemedium, or the like of an editing device 10, wherein the editing device10 receives an input signal 150 from a signal source 110 comprisingstorage medium and circuit pathways of the editing device 10 itself. Inat least one further embodiment, the signal source 110 comprises anotherediting device 10.

As previously stated, in at least one embodiment, a media module 103 isstructured to receive an input signal 150 from a signal source 110. Inone embodiment, a media module 103 is capable of receiving an inputsignal 150 from any of a plurality of signal sources 110. In one furtherembodiment, a media module 103 concurrently receives a different one ofa plurality of input signals 150 from each of a corresponding pluralityof different signal sources 110. The media module 103 is structured toplay different digital files, streams, and live feeds, and as such, inat least one embodiment, the media module 103 comprises hardware andsoftware, such as video and audio codecs, required to decode and displaydifferent input signals 150 to a device screen 100.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the devicescreen 100 comprises at least one source screen 12 and at least onedelay screen 14. The device screen 100 is capable of displaying both asource screen 12 and a delay screen 14 concurrently, with each of thesource screen 12 and the delay screen 14 comprising at least a portionof the device screen 100, such as is shown in the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 2. At least one other embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a plurality of device screens 100, wherein onedevice screen 100 is integral with an editing device 10 itself, andanother device screen 100 is separate and/or remote from the editingdevice 10, such as, by way of example only, a first device screen 100 ona digital video camera, and a second device screen 100 comprising aremote monitor disposed in a communicative relationship with the editingdevice 10 via a wired or wireless connection.

The source screen 12, in at least one embodiment, is structured todisplay an input signal 150 in real time. As used herein, “real time”shall mean that an input signal 150 is transmitted from a signal source110 to a media module 103 and is displayed on a source screen 12,without a perceivable time delay to a user.

In at least one further embodiment, a delay screen 14 is structured todisplay an input signal 150 in delay time. As used herein, “delay time”shall mean the period of time between the live or “real time” display ofan input signal 150 from a signal source 110 on a source screen 12, andthe display of the input signal 150, which in at least one embodiment isat least temporarily stored in a buffer of memory 102 of the editingdevice 10, on a delay screen 14. In at least one embodiment, the delaytime is preset, for example, a delay time of eight seconds, however, thedelay time can be reset or adjusted by a user. In one embodiment, a useradjusts a delay time via a user input module 104, and in one furtherembodiment, the delay time is reset or adjusted during the display of aninput signal 150 on a source screen 12 and/or a delay screen 14.

The user input module 104, in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention, is structured to allow a user to select an input signal 150for display on at least one source screen 12 in real time and on atleast one delay screen 14 in delay time. In an embodiment having aplurality of input signals 150 and a device screen 100 having aplurality of source screens 12, such as shown in the illustrativeembodiment of FIG. 6, a user input module 104 further allows a user toselectively display different ones of the plurality of input signals 150on different ones of the plurality of source screens 12 andcorrespondingly different ones of a plurality of delay screens 14.Further, a user input module 104 allows a user to select differentdisplay configurations of a source screen 12 and a delay screen 14 on adevice screen 100.

In at least one embodiment, a user input module 104 also allows a userto effect editing of an input signal 150 as it is displayed on a delayscreen 14. A user input module 104 allows a user to create at least oneclip 160 comprising at least a portion of an input signal 150 as it isdisplayed on a delay screen 14. In at least one embodiment, a user inputmodule 104 allows a user to initiate recording of a clip 160 of an inputsignal 150 as it is displayed on a delay screen 14, based on the visualimage the user previously viewed on a source screen 12.

More in particular, in at least one embodiment, a user views a displayof an input signal 150 in real time on a source screen 12, and when heor she views a portion or scene which he or she wishes to keep, the usercan initiate recording a clip 160 of the input signal 150 at the startof the same scene just as or just prior to the scene being displayed onthe delay screen 14, because the user knows when the scene will begin ashe or she just viewed it in real time on the source screen 12. In onefurther embodiment, a user may be viewing live action which is beingcaptured and transmitted to an editing device 10 as an input signal,and, as before, the user can initiate recording a clip 160 of the inputsignal 150 at the start of an event the user just saw as it is beingdisplayed on the delay screen 14, because the user knows when the eventbegins as he or she just watched it occur.

In at least one embodiment, the user input module 104 also allows theuser to pause recording of the clip 160, and in one further embodiment,the user input module 104 allows the user to resume recording to thesame clip 160. In one further embodiment, recording of the clip 160continues while the image on the delay screen 14 is paused. In yetanother embodiment, the input signal 150 is displayed on delay screen 14in slow motion, in order to allow more accurate editing, or in fastmotion, in order to catch up to the source screen 12 display oncerecording has been initiated, however, in this embodiment, the clip 160will capture the portion of the input signal 150 for playback in normalspeed. In yet one further embodiment, the input signal 150 is displayedon delay screen 14 in slow motion or fast motion, and the clip 160 willcapture the portion of the input signal 150 for playback in either slowmotion or fast motion, exactly as it was displayed on delay screen 14.

In one further embodiment, the user input module 104 also allows theuser to terminate recording of the clip 160. In at least one embodiment,upon termination of recording the clip 160 is at least temporarilystored on the editing device 10, such as, for example, in memory 102,and in one further embodiment, the clip 160 is automatically transferredto an output device 120 via an output module 105.

The user input module 104 in accordance with at least one embodiment ofthe present invention further allows the user to set or adjust a delaytime for display of an input signal 150 on a delay screen 14. More inparticular, in one embodiment, the user sets or adjusts a delay timewhile an input signal 150 is displayed on a source screen 12, or a delayscreen 14, or both. In another embodiment, a user sets or adjusts adelay time while an input signal 150 is being edited. In one furtherembodiment, a user input module 104 comprises one or more of physicalbuttons, touch capacitive sensing on a touchscreen input 100′, motiontracking or sensing, voice activation, and/or remote input from anotherdevice.

The output module 105, in at least one embodiment, is structured totransmit a clip 160 to an output device 120. The clip 160 comprises atleast a portion of an input signal 150 created by the editing device 10.The output device 120, in at least one embodiment, comprises a memory102 of the editing device 10, such as an internal hard disk, an attachedmemory card, embedded nonvolatile flash memory, or other such storage.The output device 120, in one further embodiment, comprises remotestorage such as a server or cloud storage provider accessible through acommunication network such as the Internet. The output module 105, inone embodiment, transmits a clip 160 in raw format, and in at least oneother embodiment, the output device 105 encodes the clip 160 with atleast one codec, and/or prompts the user to select what file type orcompression format in which to transmit the clip 160. As one example,the output module 105 is structured to process and encode the clip inone of Xvid, DivX, MPEG, H.264, WMV, WMA, MP3, MP4, etc.

In at least one embodiment, an output module 105 transmits a clip 160 ina stream or live feed format. In at least one embodiment, the outputdevice 120 comprises a computer, server, television, video monitor,tablet, audio player, or mobile electronic device. In one otherembodiment, the output device 120 comprises another editing device 10.This allows multiple users to edit an input signal 150 in a cascadingfashion. For example, a first user edits an input signal 150 on a firstediting device 10 during a sporting event and transmits a first clip 160to one or more second editing device 10 via output module 105. Thesecond editing device 10 receives the first clip 160 and the second useredit the first clip 160 thereby creating a second and further editedclip 160. In at least one embodiment, the output module 105 of the firstediting device 10 first transmits the first clip 160 to a remote server,and other editing devices 10 download or stream an input signal 150consisting of the first clip 160 from that remote server.

The output module 105 is triggered upon a termination event which, in atleast one embodiment, comprises a user input via the user input module104, e.g., actuation of a stop button. In at least one embodiment, theoutput module 105 automatically saves a clip 160 upon reaching the endof an input signal 150. In one further embodiment, the output module 105automatically saves a clip 160 upon a time out request, or anoperational error, such as, but not limited to, a camera malfunction,low battery, or software crash.

As previously stated, the editing device 10 may comprise, but is notlimited to, a mobile electronic device, a phone, or a tablet. In thisembodiment, the editing device 10 comprises a device screen 100. Thedevice screen 100 illustrates a side by side configuration of the sourcescreen 12 and the delay screen 14. The device screen 100 furthercomprises a touchscreen input 100′ including recording controls 21,delay controls 25, and playback controls 29, such as is illustrated inthe embodiment of FIG. 2.

Playback controls 29, in at least one embodiment, comprise a playbackslide bar 29′ used to select a portion of an input signal 150 to bedisplayed on a source screen 12. Playback controls 29 in one furtherembodiment comprise playback buttons 29″ including a play button toinitiate playback of an input signal 150, and a pause button to at leasttemporarily pause the playback of an input signal 150. In at least oneembodiment, the playback controls 29 are present only when the inputsignal 150 comprises a digital media file or a media stream. In anotherembodiment having an input signal 150 comprising a live feed, playbackcontrols 29 are not necessary and are therefore not displayed. However,in at least one other embodiment, the editing device 10 retains a bufferof a live feed, and as such, playback controls 29 are operational insuch an embodiment.

Delay controls 25, in at least one embodiment, comprise a delay slidebar 25′ used to adjust a delay time for the display of an input signal150 on a delay screen 14. The delay time shown in FIG. 2 ranging from 8seconds and 30 minutes is for illustrative purposes only and is notlimiting, as greater or lesser delay time limits and/or ranges arewithin the scope and intent of the present invention. Delay controls 25in one further embodiment of the present invention comprise delayadjustment buttons 25″ which are operative to incrementally increase ordecrease a delay time. In at least one embodiment, the delay adjustmentbuttons 25″ allow the display of the input signal 150 on the delayscreen 14 to be at least temporarily paused. In at least one embodiment,while the delay screen 14 is paused, the delay time automaticallyincreases if the source screen 12 continues to display the input signal150. In another embodiment, the delay controls 25 furthers comprise adelay increment button 25′″ to increase delay time in a preset intervalwhich, in at least one embodiment, is selected and/or adjusted by theuser. In one further embodiment, delay controls 25 are locked out whenthe editing device 10 is recording, while in one further embodiment, thedelay controls 25 remain operative when the editing device 10 isrecording.

Recording controls 21, in at least one embodiment, comprise a recordbutton, a pause button, and a stop button, as shown best in FIG. 2. Assuch, a user may begin recording a clip 160, pause recording of a clip,and stop recording a clip 160 as an input signal 150 is displayed on thedelay screen 14. In at least one embodiment, a user can pause recordingof a clip 160 and later resume recording to the same clip 160.

Looking next to the illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 3A through 3D, itis seen that the device screen 100 of the editing device 10 can presentat least one source screen 12 and at least one delay screen 14 invarious display configurations. As one example, FIG. 3A illustrates asource screen 12 only configuration, wherein the source screen 12comprises substantially the entire device screen 100. As anotherexample, FIG. 3B illustrates a delay screen 14 only configuration,wherein the delay screen 14 comprises substantially the entire devicescreen 100. FIG. 3C illustrates an example of a source screen 12picture-in-picture configuration, wherein the source screen 12 comprisesonly a portion of the device screen 100 while the delay screen 14comprises the remainder of the device screen 100. Lastly, FIG. 3Dillustrates a delay screen 14 picture-in-picture configuration, whereinthe delay screen 14 comprises only a portion of the device screen 100while the source screen 12 comprises the remainder of the device screen100. A user may switch between various display configurations of thesource screen 12 and the delay screen 14 via touchscreen input 100′. Inat least one embodiment, the user may switch between the various displayconfigurations using a swiping motion via touchscreen input 100′, and inone further embodiment the display configuration is affected by“pinching” a portion of the touchscreen input 100′. In at least oneother embodiment, a user may switch between various displayconfigurations using input such as motion sensing or tracking, i.e.,shaking the editing device 10, flipping the editing device 10, voicecommand, etc.

Looking next to the illustrative embodiment of FIG. 4, an input signal150 comprises an audio signal, and a visual representation of an audiosignal 30, 30′ are displayed on source screen 12 and delay screen 14,respectively. As displayed on the source screen 12, the visualrepresentation of an audio signal 30 is shown in real time, and asdisplayed on the delay screen 14, the visual representation of an audiosignal 30′ is shown in delay time. The visual representations of anaudio signal 30, 30′ may comprise waveforms, such as shown in FIG. 4. Inone further embodiment, visual markers, such as a delay time line tag34, 36 indicating where sound occurs in a video display to assist a userin editing an input signal 150 based on an audible component, such as, asound occurring by something or someone off screen and not visuallyperceivable in the source screen 12 or delay screen 14. In at least oneembodiment, a delay time line tag 34, 36, as shown in FIG. 2, isinserted by tapping the touchscreen input 100′ on source screen 12during display of an input signal 150 thereon in real time, and in oneother embodiment, a button or similar control is operable to insert oneor more delay time line tag 34, 36. In one further embodiment, a visualmarker is keyed to particular frequencies and/or amplitudes of sound toassist the user in editing of the input signal 150. In at least oneembodiment, the visual representations of an audio signal 30, 30′ aredisplayed concurrently with another visual component, such as a videosignal. The visual representations of a signal are not limited to audiosignals, but may comprise other signals such but not limited to EKG,temperature, direction, speed, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, at least one embodiment of the presentinvention comprises a plurality of editing devices 10. In theillustrative embodiment of FIG. 5, at least one editing device 10 actsas a signal source 110 and transmits an input signal 150 to each of aplurality of different editing devices 10. The user of the signal source110 focuses on recording operations, while the user of each of theplurality of editing devices 10 focuses on editing an input signal 150from the signal source 110.

As one example, a user of a signal source 110 records a high schoolfootball game, and the user of each of a plurality of different editingdevices 10 receives an input signal 150 from the signal source 110.Further, each user edits the input signal 150 to create a different clip160, wherein the clip 160 created by each user consists of videohighlights of different players.

In one alternative embodiment, a plurality of signal sources 110 recordfrom different vantage points, and each of the plurality of signalsources 110 transmits an input signal 150 to an editing device 10, toallow simultaneous editing of multiple input signals 150. As just oneexample, a plurality of signal sources 110 are setup at different anglesand locations to record a football game, and each signal source 110transmits a different input signal 150 to an editing device 10. A userof the editing device 10 can select one of the plurality of differentinput signals 150 and edit one of the plurality of different inputsignals 150 to create a clip 160 having a duration of 10 seconds, andthe editing device 10 will simultaneously create a clip 160 of the same10 seconds from each of the remaining plurality of different inputsignals 150. This allows a clip 160 of the exact same event, e.g., theexact same 10 second interval, to be viewed from different perspectives.In at least one embodiment, the signal sources 110 and editing devices10 are linked together via wired or wireless communication, such as viaLAN, WiFi, Bluetooth, or other communication technologies.

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of one illustrative embodimentof a method for visual editing of at least one input signal on anediting device having a device screen 300. In the embodiment of FIG. 7,a user selects 310 at least one input signal comprising at least onevisual component. The input signal may be stored locally on the editingdevice, connected to or in communication with the editing device, orstreamed across a communication network such as the Internet.

A device screen is partitioned 320 into a source screen and a delayscreen, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Thesource screen and the delay screen can be displayed either concurrentlyor separately on the device screen. The user selects between a pluralityof different display configurations including, but not limited to,source screen only, delay screen only, side by side, source screenpicture-in-picture, delay screen picture-in-picture, etc., as describedabove with reference to FIGS. 3A through 3D.

In at least one embodiment of the present method 300, an input signal isdisplayed 330 on the source screen in real time. In the case where theinput signal comprises an audio component, a visual representation ofthe audio signal is displayed on the source screen. In at least onefurther embodiment, an input signal is then displayed 340 on the delayscreen in delay time. The delay time is preset, however, in at least oneembodiment, a user can reset a delay time tailored to a particularuser's reaction time. The user can adjust the delay time on the editingdevice during the display playback of the input signal. In at least oneembodiment, a user adjusts the delay time during recording of a clip. Inone further embodiment, when a user adjusts the delay time duringplayback of the input signal on the editing device, the display of theinput signal on the delay screen adjusts correspondingly to the newdelay time.

A user initiates recording 350 of a clip of an input signal based on thereplay of a visual image displayed on a delay screen in accordance withone embodiment of the present method 300. In at least one furtherembodiment, the user pauses and resumes recording at any time toselectively record only those desired portions of the input signal,which the user has previously viewed either live or as displayed on asource screen, thus allowing visual editing of the input signal. In atleast one embodiment, the pausing and resuming operations will notcreate a plurality of clips, but rather results in a single, compositeclip.

In accordance with one further embodiment of the present method 300, auser terminates 360 recording of a clip of the input signal as displayedon the delay screen. Subsequently, the clip is output 370. In anotherembodiment, termination 360 results in a clip being output 370automatically. In another embodiment, termination 360 results inprompting the user on how or where to output 370 the clip. In at leastone embodiment, output 370 of a clip further includes encoding the clipwith at least one codec. The user further selects the codecs and/or fileformat in which the clip is output 370. Output 370 may further comprise,by way of example only, saving a clip in the internal memory 102 of theediting device, to an attached storage medium, to a storage medium incommunication with the editing device, or to a server such as a cloudstorage provider or social media provider over the Internet.

Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be madeto the described preferred embodiment of the invention, it is intendedthat all matters in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined bythe appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. An editing device for visual editing comprising:a device screen, a media module, a user input module, an output module,and a memory having a buffer, said media module receives an input signalcomprising at least one visual component, said device screen comprisinga source screen and a delay screen, said source screen displays saidinput signal in real time, said delay screen displays said input signalin delay time, said user input module allows a user to create at leastone clip comprising a portion of said input signal as it is displayed onsaid delay screen, said user input module further allows a user tochange said delay time during operation of said device, and said outputmodule outputs said at least one clip.
 2. The device as recited in claim1 wherein said user input module further comprises a touchscreen input.3. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said touchscreen inputallows a user to insert a delay time line tag during display of saidinput signal on said source screen.
 4. The device as recited in claim 2wherein said user input module further allows the user to change saiddelay time using a delay slide bar during display of said input signal.5. The device as recited in claim 2 wherein said user input modulefurther allows the user to adjust said delay time in increments using adelay increment button.
 6. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein saiduser input module further allows the user to select from a plurality ofdifferent display configurations of said source screen and delay screenon said device screen.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein saiduser input module further allows the user to switch between saidplurality of different display configurations via swiping a touchscreeninput.
 8. The device as recited in claim 6 wherein said plurality ofdifferent display configurations comprise a side by side configuration,a source screen only configuration, a delay screen only configuration, asource screen picture-in-picture configuration, and a delay screenpicture-in-picture configuration.
 9. The device as recited in claim 1wherein said visual component comprises a visual representation of anon-video signal.
 10. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein saiddevice comprises one of a camera, a digital video camera, a computer, atablet, a cell phone, or a mobile electronic device.
 11. The device asrecited in claim 1 wherein said input signal is at least temporarilystored in said buffer of said memory.
 12. The device as recited in claim1 wherein said output module outputs said at least one clip to saidmemory.
 13. A method for visual editing at least one input signal on anediting device having a device screen comprising: selecting the at leastone input signal, wherein the at least one input signal comprises atleast one visual component, partitioning the device screen into a sourcescreen and a delay screen, displaying the input signal on the sourcescreen in real time, displaying the input signal on the delay screen indelay time, initiating recording of a clip of the input signal asdisplayed on the delay screen, terminating recording of the clip of theinput signal as displayed on the delay screen, and outputting the clip.14. A system for visual editing comprising: at least one device screen,an editing device comprising a media module, a user input module, and anoutput module, said at least one device screen comprising a sourcescreen and a delay screen, said media module receives said input signalfrom at least one signal source, said source screen displays said inputsignal in real time, said input signal comprising at least one visualcomponent, said delay screen displays said input signal in delay time,said user input module comprising recording controls to allow a user tocreate at least one clip comprising a portion of said input signal as itis displayed on said delay screen, said recording controls comprising arecord button to allow the user to initiate recording of the at leastone clip of said input signal as displayed on the delay screen, saidrecording controls further comprising a stop button to allow the user toterminate recording of the at least one clip of said input signal asdisplayed on the delay screen, said user input module further allows theuser to change said delay time during operation of said device, and saidoutput module outputs said at least one clip.
 15. The system as recitedin claim 14 wherein said recording controls further comprise a pausebutton to allow the user to at least temporarily pause recording of theat least one clip of said input signal as displayed on the delay screen.16. The system as recited in 15 wherein said pause button further allowsa user to resume recording of said input signal as displayed on thedelay screen to said at least one clip.
 17. The system as recited inclaim 14 wherein said recording controls are operable via a touchscreeninput.
 18. The system as recited in claim 14 further comprising aplurality of device screens, wherein each of said plurality of devicescreens comprising one of a corresponding plurality of source screensand a corresponding one of a plurality of delay screens.
 19. The systemas recited in claim 18 wherein said editing device comprises at leastone of said plurality of device screens and another of said plurality ofdevice screens is separate from said editing device.
 20. The system asrecited in claim 18 wherein said recording controls are operable via atouchscreen input